Verified Solution Science Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects

Consider a long straight wire connected to a battery. A student brings a compass near the wire and observes a deflection. After some time, the student touches the wire and finds it warm. a) Identify the two effects of electric current demonstrated by these observations. b) Name one device that works solely based on the magnetic effect and one device that works solely based on the heating effect. c) How can the strength of the magnetic effect be increased without changing the current in the wire, and how can the heating effect be increased without changing the length of the wire?

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Answer

a) The two effects are the magnetic effect (compass deflection) and the heating effect (wire getting warm) of electric current.

b) Device based solely on magnetic effect: Electric bell (or electromagnet, motor). Device based solely on heating effect: Electric heater (or electric iron, geyser, bulb filament).

c) To increase the magnetic effect without changing current: Coil the wire into a solenoid, or insert an iron core into the coil. To increase the heating effect without changing wire length: Increase the resistance of the wire (by using a thinner wire or material with higher resistivity) or increase the current/voltage across the wire.

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